Hanseong Marquis
In just one month, a third of the committee had peeled away. They seemed to finally realize they'd been played, but it was too late—the trust between the remaining committee members was shattered, and their empty seats were filled by personnel from the northern alliance faction.
Even if they grasped what had happened, the damage was done. Over half of Gangnam's military authority had already shifted to northern hands. Now they faced a stark choice: hold out to the bitter end or relinquish power in exchange for promises of wealth and honor. Of course, the sooner they stepped down, the greater the rewards. It was first-come, first-served.
"Is this for real?" I asked with a grin, and Han Byeol giggled in response.
"Yes, it happened this morning."
The report that came up was hilariously detailed. On their way to the committee meeting at the government office this morning, the defectors who'd already resigned their positions crossed paths with the still-active insiders on the committee. Their relationship was predictably toxic. The ones living cushy lives after quitting had the gall to tell the holdouts right to their faces, "Don't keep choking down that poisoned apple. Drop it already. Don't cling to it and get stabbed in the back." A fight broke out on the spot.
The bodyguards intervened before anyone got hurt, but the committee members sent me a petition demanding punishment for those who insulted them.
"Convene a video conference."
"Yes, sir!"
In the virtual meeting, with all the agency heads and committee members watching, I openly addressed the report that had come across my desk and laid into them harshly.
"Come on... you're not middle schoolers anymore. Let's act like adults."
"Marshal, we're sorry..."
"We have no face to show you. Our apologies."
The northern alliance personnel and agency heads looked at the brawlers with the pitying gaze reserved for insects. Ashamed, the culprits couldn't even lift their heads.
"...And for those reasons, we hereby declare the launch of the 'Alliance-Gangnam Unified Government.'"
Gangnam's citizens cheered. Gangnam had already been fully absorbed into the alliance, but today marked the official announcement. The new government's name would draw from the alliance's existing title: simply the "Alliance Government." Omitting "Gangnam" from it was a deliberate political signal that Gangnam had been swallowed whole.
No one resisted. Gangnam's people were gradually shifting their loyalty to the alliance. My teachers called this policy "bread and circuses," but I told them not to—it felt too dismissive of the populace, treating them like fools. We'd already purged the likely troublemakers early on through a thorough cleanup, confiscating their assets.
The committee was now over half northern alliance appointees, and even the remaining half had voluntarily surrendered most of their military command. The moment they realized the authority in their hands wasn't a lifeline but a blade at their own throats, they dropped it without hesitation. In exchange, I promised them political protection, wealth, and honor. That wrapped up the mild purge of the insiders.
My teachers showered praise on my gentle approach to the purge.
"It's not that praiseworthy..."
"No, Marshal, it is. Purges are supposed to be bloody, yet you completed yours without spilling a single drop."
The history teacher likened me to Song Taizu, the archetype of a merciful purge. Honestly, I didn't think I was on his level.
"O-oppa..."
"H-huh? What?"
I woke at dawn to the sensation of someone touching my face. Opening my eyes, I saw I-rang kneading my cheeks with both hands.
"Need to use the bathroom?"
"N-no! I can g-go by myself now. It's just... S-Star Sister is w-waiting outside."
"Huh? Han Byeol?"
Right then, Han Byeol's voice came from beyond the door.
"May I come in?"
"Yeah, come on."
The door creaked open, and Han Byeol rushed in, breathless.
"It's not anything bad...!"
"Huh?!"
"Pardon?"
Before I could even finish hearing her out, she reacted dramatically, then gave me a puzzled look.
A message appeared before my eyes: new titles had been created. And my original Nakyuan Marquis title had been renamed to Hanseong Marquis.
"Two new barriers popped up too?"
Han Byeol nodded. "Yes! You've already sensed them."
"Just now... Anyway, convene a meeting with all the executives and committee members."
"They're already waiting."
"Guess I'm the late one."
I had no idea why the titles updated now. My best guess was that last night's unification declaration—plus instructing Gangnam to hold their own celebration—had been recognized as official integration, triggering the addition.
"But why change the title name? I liked Nakyuan Marquis better..." I grumbled as I headed to the office.
I threw on a rough suit for the meeting, but Han Byeol dragged me to the bathroom, insisting it wouldn't do. I showed up freshened up.
"Sorry I'm late."
"No problem, Marshal!"
"We just arrived too!"
"Hail, Marshal!"
The agency heads, executives, and committee members on the monitors rose in unison and bowed deeply.
"Barriers just appeared, right?"
"Yes, Marshal!"
"The citizens are crowding around them, fascinated!"
Han Byeol leaned in, bowed her head, and whispered in my ear.
"The barriers are the same nine-block size as in the north—one each at the centers of Gangnam-gu and Seocho-gu."
It seemed swallowing up Gangnam and Seocho, fully under Gangnam government control, had granted the titles. The names likely came from Guryongsan and Daemosan mountains connecting those districts. We'd fought two wars in the north for two titles, but here in the south, two came without a single battle. Bizarre. This ability was truly unpredictable.
Gangnam government's full domain covered Gangnam-gu, Seocho-gu, and parts of Songpa, Dongjak, and Gwanak districts. The rest of Gangnam's districts were carved up among warlords, so they probably didn't count as direct territory. Same with the north—the barriers hadn't appeared in areas run by alliance executives, even if I was the alliance marshal.
Han Seol spoke up. "We've deployed troops to calm the gathered citizens for now."
"Make sure no one gets hurt."
"Yes, sir!"
Gangnam's people, having only heard rumors of the alliance marshal's powers, were thrilled to witness them firsthand. They were up at dawn, swarming the barriers and cheering.
"All civil servants reported in?"
"Yes, everyone."
"I'll be back in 30 minutes. Gather all executives, committee members, and agency heads in one spot by then."
"Understood!"
I shut off the monitors and checked my points.
Held Points: 1473P
Up by 500. I always checked points before bed, and last night it was definitely 973P. The barriers in Gangnam must have granted the bonus for building inside them.
"Sheesh... even the ability discriminates between north and south."
"Pardon?"
"Never mind. Issue citizenship there first and start building."
I spent 1440P. In Guryongju and Daemojo each, I constructed two LV.2 hospitals, two LV.3 farms, and two LV.2 housing units—six buildings per domain, twelve total. Good thing I'd been saving. Nearly tapped out, but no regrets. These were emergency reserves for exactly this. With Gangnam government's old core drawing crowds, this scale should cover them. The four LV.3 farms would flood the area with premium crops. Hospitals would treat and diagnose tax-paying residents unconditionally. I placed housing at the edges, where infinite water and power flowed—hook up hoses to every floor and room for hot water, and we could even add communal showers.
"Alright, let's resume the meeting."
The meeting dragged on for over five hours, ending only after sunrise. The new LV.3 farms' 4th and 5th floors were all unified as rice paddies, of course. The premium rice would mix into rations to boost quality. Lower floors' crops went partly to high officials, the rest stockpiled. I dispatched alliance doctors and nurses to the four new hospitals. Appointed Han Seol as Guryongju administrator and Jeong Su-hwan as Daemojo administrator, sharing full authority. Ordered 160 personnel from the alliance—doctors, nurses, soldiers: 80 to Guryongju, 80 to Daemojo—to reside in the barriers as supervisors. Executives eagerly volunteered their subordinates; it was a coveted post. No Gangnam natives—pure northern alliance fills. Call it discrimination if you want; I'd shown plenty of mercy already. I'm northern-born, after all—taking care of my old crew comes first.
Han Seol and Jeong Su-hwan selected ten alliance awakeners with 95%+ loyalty, granting them transit pass authority for Guryongju and Daemojo. They'd rotate at the hospitals, vetting patients as gatekeepers for pass issuance.
Still mountains of work ahead.
Two weeks after the barriers appeared in Gangnam-gu and Seocho-gu, the 24-hour communal showers outside—fed by infinite housing water—were booming. Poor citizens, who'd never dreamed of hot showers, lined up daily to bathe and haul clean water. Regrettably, with crowds swelling, we capped showers at five minutes each.
The gatekeepers with pass authority screened hospital-bound patients at the barriers—mostly the destitute. Lines were endless; four hospitals couldn't cope. Time to build more or find alternatives.
Ration quality improvements were sinking in too. Rumors swirled: "Rice tastes better lately," "Thicker grains mixed in," "Heard they blended premium rice from the alliance marshal." Gangnam's sentiment was tilting my way.
I asked my teachers about "Hanseong"—turns out it's Seoul's old name, confirming my hunch. Full direct and indirect control over Seoul must've triggered the title rename.
Gangnam's president offered to resign; I rejected it. He was still a useful totem. Nominally my co-ruler, he'd long passed "puppet president" into "ghost president" territory. I'd boot him when the time was right. Post-hospital and showers, citizens quipped: "President? Who's that?" "He still alive?" "Isn't he just the marshal's living speakerphone?"
Gangnam's warlords were bowing one by one, inquiring if their sick subordinates could use the hospitals. I let them—for a fee. Once stable, I'd summon them to Nakyuan.
Han Byeol pinned massive Seoul and national maps on my office wall.
"Next up: Gyeonggi Province."
"Don't get ahead of yourself..."
Seoul unified, yet it still felt surreal, like a dream. Nakyuan's executives and teachers would return in two weeks once systems stabilized.
Han Byeol hugged me from behind as I sat.
"You've barely slept these past days. Want to hit the spa with me for a nap?"
"Mm... nap sounds good."
Han Seol on the monitor chimed in. "You know the video call's still connected, right?" Her expression was a bit peeved.
"J-just kidding. How could I relax alone while you two slave away?"
Han Seol replied, "When I get back, you owe me lots of cuddles."
"Yeah..."
With executives returning, I'd host a feast combining Gangnam conquest and Jui's coming-of-age. Han Seol back meant more nights in the hospital VIP room. These sisters were wearing me out.